Raheem Sterling, in contrast, has virtually skipped back to work unaffected by a traumatic few months.

The difference between Sterling’s effervescence and Gerrard’s introspection can be attributed to the sensitivities of time.

One is desperate to grasp every opportunity for fear it is the last, while Sterling, 19, embraces the negative as much as the positive as part of each new adventure.

“It was a great experience for me going to the World Cup coming on the back of a decent league season for me,” Sterling said ahead of Liverpool’s friendly against Olympiakos in Chicago on Sunday night.

“Sadly we just missed out on the Premier League title but going to Brazil was another good experience and learning curve on a world stage in front of millions of people.

"The results were disappointing, obviously, and going out in the group stages was not what we wanted but I have definitely taken some positives from it and I will try to build on my performances and the team’s performances going forward.

"I think we had a good enough squad and team to go into the knockout stages but that’s football. We have to learn from that going into the next major tournament. Now I have to keep striving from here and get better.

“It’s massive to be part of England’s future and that is something I want to work on through Liverpool. I want to work hard for my club and then the nation so that hopefully we will do everyone proud.”

Sterling finds himself in a rare position in that for all the despair at England’s results, his reputation was enhanced. The lack of a post-World Cup backlash owed everything to the promise of youngsters such as Sterling.

They were the defensive shield off the pitch for Roy Hodgson that he lacked on it.

Sterling accepts he will not be seen as the promising youngster for much longer, but is unambiguous when asked if he will relish being seen as a symbol of the next ‘golden generation’.

“Definitely,” he said “It’s nice to hear people thought I did well but we win and lose as a team and to be in the most exciting tournament in the world and go out of the group stages, you can’t really be looking at the positive for yourself like that.

"I went to Jamaica for a holiday after the World Cup and have not been in England too long since. I can imagine what it was like with a lot of people bitterly disappointed.

“There was a lot of pressure on the nation to do well, not just me. I didn’t think there was too much pressure and expectation — we expect it — but we were disappointed not to meet the country’s expectations. We will all try to do better next time and I definitely believe we will.

“I realised while I was with England that international football is a completely different type of football. It is a more thinking type of game.

"The way teams were set up against England was to defend and play on the counter. In the Premier League it is more end to end, but generally the teams were more well organised and had a tactical plan to hit you.”

Although he made his debut shortly after Liverpool’s last tour of America in 2012, last season was Sterling’s true ‘breakthrough’.

A year ago, Sterling said after a pre-season friendly that he still was not sure he was worthy of the description: Liverpool player. He has modified this view.

“I definitely feel more a Liverpool player now, especially on the back of having made it to a World Cup,” he said. “The last two years have gone past so quickly but has been really enjoyable and a big learning curve. Now I have to keep learning and growing.

“The manager has been a massive influence day in, day out. He has made my football intelligence much better, helping me read the game and making me grow up real fast in footballing terms. He has taught me a massive amount on the tactical side and made me develop on this aspect.

“But I still have to keep focused on working hard and doing everything to keep progressing. I have to prove myself again and try to achieve more than last season. I have personal and team goals I have set myself again and the main aim is to help this team go one step further this year.”